stop this severe criticism
of your grandparents. You must remember that they are my father and
mother, and that I love them very dearly, and I want you to do the same.
If their ways don't suit you, remember that children should not criticise
their elders, and say nothing about them. If there is anything about
them that you do like, comment on that, but remain silent as to the
things that displeased you."

The Maynard children well knew that when their father talked seriously
like this, it was intended as a grave reproof, and they always took it
so.

"Father," said King, manfully, "I was wrong to speak as I did, and I'm
sorry, and I won't do it again. We didn't any of us like to be at Grandma
Maynard's, but I was the only one who spoke so disrespectfully. Midge and
Kitty were awfully nice about it."

"No, we weren't," confessed Kitty. "At least, I wasn't. Midget said lots
of times that we oughtn't to be disrespectful, but I guess I was. But,
you see, Father, it was awfully hard to please those people."

"We didn't understand them," said Marjorie, thoughtfully. "When I tried
to be good I got scolded, and when I cut up jinks they gave me a present
for it! Who could know what to do in a house like that?"

Mr. Maynard smiled in spite of himself.

"I think you've struck it. Midget," he said. "Grandma and Grandpa Maynard
_are_ a little inconsistent, and don't always know exactly what they do
want. But that is largely because they are not very young, and they live
alone, and are all unused to the vagaries of children. But these facts
are to be accepted, not criticised, and I want you to remember, once for
all, that you're not to say anything further disrespectful or unkind
about your grandparents. And I think I know you well enough to know that
you'll understand and obey these instructions without any more scolding
on my part."

"We will, Fathery," said Midget, pounding on his arm with her little
fists, by way of affectionate emphasis.

"Yes, we will!" agreed King, heartily. "And so now let's cut it out and
have a good time."

And have a good time they did. Swiftly traversing the upper part of New
York City, they continued along delightful roads; sometimes passing
through towns, sometimes getting views of the shining waters of Long
Island Sound, and sometimes travelling through the green, open country.

Partly because of the repression of the past few days, and partly because
of the exhilaration of the fresh spring